Improvement in bee-hives



iltnted tatw THOMAS II. FORSTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

Letters Patent No. 104,011, dated 'June 7, 1&70.

Mang- IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HYI'VES.

lThe Schedule referred to in these' Letters Patent and making part cf the same'.

I, THoMAs H. Fons'rnn, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marlon and State of -Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in Bee-Hives, of which the following is' a specification.

Nature and Objects ofthe Invention.

This invention relates to construction and arrangement ofthe hive, having for its object to secure a more convenient arrangement of movable, combframes, combined with a better ventilation and protection alorded by surrounding double case and mothtrap, as hereinafter described.

Description of Accompanying Drawing. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hive, embodying my invention. y Figure 2 is a trmlsverse vertical section of the same. Figure is a horizontal section ot' the same. Figure 4 is a view of the bottom ofthe hive,sl1 ow ing the plan of the bee-entrance, the moth-trap and vThe external case is made with one door, B, while4 each side of the internal case' is made with a door, O, as shown.

The central part of the .internal case, not being available for use for honey-frames, is occupied by a drum, D, of the same form as the case. A shaft, E, the bottom end ot' which rests in astep in the bottom board of the external case, extends through the top of the case, and is furnished with a wheel, F, by which torotate the inner case or hive.

A spring stop, G, is arranged to enga-ge with notches in the bottom board .of the inner case, in ordcr to hold it in position. This stop projects through the outer case, and, when it is desired to turn the inner case so as to bring one of the doors O opposite the door in the outer case, the stop is 'disengaged from the notch in the bottom board of the inner case. The bee-eutranceconsists,of a piece of sheet metal, H, formed and attached to the bottom board of the exterior case, as shown in figs. 2 and 4, the Wide open end being placed case.

- A cutis made in the sheet-metal piece H, as shown, inthe rear part, h, which is bent downward, so `as to form an inclined plane for the bees -to ascend through the opening formed by the out, and get into the space under the interior, from whence they may enter the latter through any of the holes e in its hottom.

A moth-trap is provided by another piece of sheet metal, t', of similar form to the bee-entrance, and placed below it, as shown in g. 2, and in dotted lines in iig. 4.

The moths, in their efforts to enter the hive, and as they do so, to secrete themselves, will crawl under this plate and go down the hole o into the vdrawer I from which they can be removed at pleasure.

The internal case is subdivided into compartments, each of which is to be furnished with comb-trames,.`J, constructed as shown in g.`5, the upper part of the frames being' notched at r, so that they may be hung on bars, k, in the case, as shown in gs. 2 and3. i

The form and manner-of arranging the comb-frames in the internal case will be found to possess many advantages, as the fra-mes, when filled with broodcomb and honey, can more conveniently be disposed to subserve the several purposes required, with less disturbance ofthe bees than when many frames are hung close together, as in the rectangularhives. Y y

The double vcase will also be found to possess the advantages of better protection of the bees, as it will becooler in summer and warmer in winter, the space intervening providing an excellent means of 'ventilation.

Ventilating holes, covered with wire-cloth, are proopposit'e an opening in the outer Avided at L, iu .the bottom of the external case, and

at M near the top.

Claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination and arrangement of the dou- Witnesses;

DAN. W. KNEFLER, O. F. MAYnnW. 

